“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” -- Romans 6:23 (NLT)
Sin is ever present in the fallen world in which we live. It tempts us, causes us to stumble, complicates lives and relationships, and often leads to depression, anxiety, and stress.
There are three types of sin that we face each and every day. They are,
- Sin against Me
- Sin in the World
- Sin by Me
Matthew 18:6-8 speaks clearly to each of the three types of sins we struggle with:
- Sin against Me: 18:6 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (NLT)
- Sin in the World: 18:7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” (NLT)
- Sin by Me: 18:8 “So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.” (NLT)
I grew up believing I was a Christian, that I was heaven-bound because that was just what I was taught to believe. It wasn’t until I was 19 that someone challenged me regarding my salvation and I made the decision to truly surrender my life to Christ.
If you are unsure about your salvation, or if you’ve never prayed to receive Christ, there’s no better time than the present to make that life-changing decision and invite Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior.
Develop habits that foster growth in our knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. Once your salvation is sealed, you need to be continually growing closer to God and His Word. A close, personal relationship with our heavenly Father and daily nourishment in His Word will help you resist the temptation to sin.
When we implement daily prayer time with the Lord, study His Word daily, and attend worship services regularly, we can strengthen our defenses against sin.
While no routine is going to completely keep us from ever falling into temptation and sin, by implementing healthy habits, we can increase our ability to turn away from sin and stop it before it becomes a stronghold in our lives.
If you don’t already have a routine of daily quiet time, bible study, corporate worship, and accountability – take action today to put these safeguards in place to protect yourself from falling into sin.
If you are not sure that your salvation is in place or if you have never confessed your sin and invited Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior, I invite you to do so today by praying the prayer below.
Dear Lord,
I humbly confess to You that I am a sinner. I have lived my life by following my wants, lusts, and desires. I come before you today to ask you to forgive me of my sins, believing that You died on the cross to pay for them in full. You did for me what I am not able to do for myself. Therefore today I am receiving You Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life, to take up residence in my soul, and to cover me with Your abundant grace and mercy. I choose today to follow You, to turn my life over to You.
I love you, Jesus, and I thank you that I am your child.
Amen
If you prayed that prayer just now, I want to be the first person to say, “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!”
What safeguards will you put in place today that will help you resist the temptation to sin?
